National ACE Teacher of the Year: Kathy Biernat St. Mary’s Visitation, Elm Grove, WI

National ACE School of the Year: Hillsboro Charter Academy

Coordinator, Megan Tucker Principal, Mark Wertheimer, Hillsboro, VA

National ACE Coordinator of the Year: Tracy Wright

Wetumpka Elementary School, Wetumpka, AL

National ACE Student of the Year: Logan McAlvey National ACE 1st Year Teacher of Excellence: Tammy Clingenpeel

National ACE CAP Partners: Maj Mike Seiloff & Lt Col Frank Roldan Fellowship Baptist Academy and MI Wing, CAP

Carson City, MI

National ACE Ambassador of the Year: Brian Johnston Friendship Elementary School, Buford, GA

National ACE Sustained Excellence Award: Isaac Piper

Arbor View Elementary School, Elkhorn, NE

National ACE Collaborative Award: Rossana Chiarella Palm Springs North Elementary, Hialeah, FL 33015

National ACE Emeritus Award: Carla Chin

San Jose Catholic School, Jacksonville, FL

#1 National ACE Teacher of the Year:

Kathy Biernat St. Mary’s Visitation, Elm Grove, WI

Since 2013, Kathy Biernat has been an active sixth grade ACE teacher! She has not only completed many ACE lessons with her students, she has also integrated CAP’s STEM Kits, AEX books, and various other organizational programs into her ACE classroom. Kathy uses flight as her theme to engage her students using Bernoulli’s Principle, problem solving, engineering, various math situations, and many physical science activities…. The culmination of her ACE program involves each student completing a Choice Project, such as developing aerospace timelines, building and flying models of air and space craft, writing songs and books, creating art projects, and role playing as famous aviation icons. The students’ work has been featured on the school’s social media pages, in the community newspaper, in the school’s virtual backpack and Snap Chat, and during Open Houses. Kathy has made numerous presentations at local, state, and national educational events and conferences about the CAP ACE and STEM programs.

Kathy is truly a fantastic FACE of ACE

and we applaud her dedication and commitment in preparing her students not only for following grade levels’ work,

but for the future! CONGRATULATIONS, Kathy!

#2 National ACE School of the Year: Hillsboro Charter Academy Principal, Mark Wertheimer

Coordinator, Megan Tucker, Hillsboro, VA

Hillsboro Charter Academy welcomed a new STEM coordinator, Megan Tucker, a couple of years ago, and since then, the school has been an ACE school! Under the coordination of Megan, the entire school integrates ACE lessons along with other CAP STEM programs and various other organizational programs. The school has visitors in the school to help promote STEM education, and that includes CAP and the Air Force Association. These ACE students are learning about academics in a real-world manner with engaging inquiry-based projects; about character during community service activities, and about physical fitness in their interactive activities. The principal of the school, Mark Wertheimer, is certainly a visionary leader who empowers his team to utilize any resources that will further the students’ understanding of STEM concepts and their applicability to the future workforce.

We sincerely applaud this soaring school and appreciate their work with CAP’s STEM programs!

Hillsboro Charter Academy will host the 2018-2018 National ACE Lift-off Event October 26! Stay Tuned!

CONGRATULATIONS, Hillsboro Charter Academy!

#3 National ACE Coordinator of the Year:

Tracy Wright Wetumpka Elementary School (WES), Wetumpka, AL

WES STEM Coordinator, Tracy Wright, initiated the ACE program at his school this year and is set to expand the program throughout his school system next year as the system’s STEM coordinator. He worked with the principal, Bonnie Sullivan, and the system superintendent, Richard Dennis, to ignite their interest in CAP STEM programs by first ensuring they became AEMs! Then, they took their CAP TOP flight over WES where the eager little WES ACE students observed in awe. Each teacher at the school became an AEM, and then, an ACE teacher! Specialists also became a part of the ACE program, with the Speech/Language specialist, Kelley Fuller, going all out with CAP’s STEM Kit and ACE program and being named an AFA chapter Teacher of the Year. WES was featured in the magazine for the Council for Leaders of AL Schools and was on the news. All around the school, ACE activities flourished and allowed the K-5th grade students to soar until the very last day of school!

We appreciate you, Tracy Wright! CONGRATULATIONS on being a new and dynamic FACE of ACE!

#4 National ACE Student of the Year:

Logan McAlvey Teacher, Tammy Clingenpeel, Fellowship Baptist Academy,

Carson City, MI

Said teacher, Tammy Clingenpeel, “Logan has shown great enthusiasm and interest whenever we had an ACE lesson. He showed good leadership in the activities. He has a thirst for knowledge and always had a positive attitude. He enjoyed the ACE activities and has a knack to succeed. Logan has a caring spirit and a desire to help others

succeed. He worked in 14 ACE lessons this year. “ Logan was presented his award on the last day of school by the MI CAP Wing Commander, Col Curtis Boehmer, who also autographed his ACE shirt (joining CAP ACE volunteers, Lt Col Frank Roldan and Maj Mike Seiloff)! AND--- Logan’s ACE shirt (along with his entire class) was provided by the State of MI Air Force Association (AFA) president, Randy Whitmire, and his team in MI.

Congratulations, Logan!

You epitomize the heart, mind and STEM initiative of a true ACE student! We are proud of you!

#5 National ACE First Time Star Performer: Tammy Clingenpeel

Fellowship Baptist Academy, Carson City, MI

Tammy Clingenpeel was introduced to the ACE program by the CAP MI AE team of Lt Col Frank Roldan & Maj Mike Seiloff, who volunteered in the program. She was then connected with the MI State AFA president, Randy Whitmire, who sponsored her students’ ACE shirts. She took the program and shared it with her students and fellow teachers, who all began using the CAP STEM Kits to supplement their programs. With energy, initiative, dedication, & drive, this new ACE teacher lifted off all year sending CAP photos of her students doing myriad ACE activities.. She was presented her award by the CAP MI Wing Commander, Col Curtis Boehmer, at a special ceremony on the last day of school. CONGRATULATIONS, Tammy!

#6 National ACE CAP Volunteers:

Lt Col Frank Roldan and Maj Mike Seiloff, WI Wing for Fellowship Baptist Academy, Carson City, MI

The CAP MI AE team of Lt Col Frank Roldan & Maj Mike Seiloff are always promoting CAP’s AE programs in schools and organizations, but they did a fine job this year of recruiting a new AEM, Tammy Clingenpeel, who quickly took hold of CAP’s ACE program at her school. Then, the dynamic duo of Roldan and Seiloff began working with the ACE students at the school. The school recently held an awards program

wherein the MI Wing Commander, Col Curtis Boehmer, made the presentations to the ACE Award winners, and saw, first-hand, how his AE leaders also paved the way for the success of the ACE program at the school. Demonstrating the efficacy of the ACE program to unite volunteers, such as CAP (and AFA) members, with the ACE program is just what Roldan and Seiloff did this year. It is hoped that they will now help other AEOs connect with local ACE schools to be able to provide an awareness of what CAP does for communities, in the air and on the ground, and in the cadet program!

Thanks, MI AE Team, for being CAP FACES of ACE!

#7 National ACE Ambassador of the Year: Brian Johnston

Friendship Elementary School, Buford, GA

Brian Johnston stands apart from most people. Not because he is distant, but because he is omnipresent! Brian is a 5th grade teacher at Friendship Elementary School, and the ACE Coordinator at the school. He is past National ACE Coordinator and his school, National ACE School; hosting the 2017-2018 National ACE Lift-off event. But, he is much more than that. He is also a uniformed member of CAP, Capt Brian Johnston, External Director of AE for the GA Wing. Brian combines his hats as both an educator and a DAE and goes everywhere promoting the CAP ACE program! In 2015-2016, before Brian became an ACE educator, there were 5 ACE schools in GA. In 2016-2017, when Brian started in the program, he immediately began sharing the “good word” about the program and GA had 10 ACE schools. This year, 2017-2018, with Brian’s constant promotion of the program, GA had 20 ACE schools! Brian makes presentations at local, state, and national education conferences and works to speak at any opportunity about CAP’s STEM education programs. He has absolutely become an amazing ACE Ambassador, and CAP is very pleased and proud to know him! Making great strides in any program makes it difficult to continue exceeding the bar set before. Thus, the pressure is on, Brian! Thanks for ALL you do at your school, in your CAP squadron, SER-GA-156’s Barrow-Jackson Composite Squadron, and in the GA Wing. All of your hard work is certainly helping CAP shine on a national level!

CONGRATULATIONS, Brian Johnston!

#8 National ACE Sustained Excellence Award: Isaac Piper

Arbor View Elementary School, Elkhorn, NE

Isaac Piper is another example of a CAP uniformed member who is an educator and sees the benefit of integrating CAP’s ACE program in whatever school he is teaching. Isaac has been an ACE educator since 2009 for 4th and 5th graders. He has moved to a different school and has continued to teach the ACE program. This is his 9th year as an ACE educator; almost being there from the start…. Isaac has been a sustained ACE educator of excellence and we are pleased to recognize his achievement this year. Maj Piper, past AE Officer for his squadron, NCR-NE-010’s Freemont Cadet Squadron, is currently the PA Officer for the NE Wing, so we hope he can help spread the word about the benefits of CAP’s STEM education programs. As a former CAP cadet himself, he also works with the cadets in his squadron, so he is definitely continuing to make a difference. Maj Piper is able to introduce the Cadet program to his students so they can become a cadet after being an ACE student in his classroom, if they so desire. THAT is a great spin-off and purpose of the ACE program for our CAP squadrons! The cadets and adults can assist in the ACE program, as well.

For all the years of ACE excellence, Isaac, we applaud and honor you!

#9 National ACE Collaborative Award: Dr. Rossana Chiarella

Palm Springs North Elementary, Hialeah, FL 33015

Rosanna Chiarella was last year’s National ACE Teacher, nominated by a parent for

her work with PreK and with the 3rd-5th grade STEM SPACE Club. Rosanna has expanded her horizons as she continually reaches out at educator conferences and in her community to connect her young ACE students with members of CAP and of the community. She is the ultimate collaborator to ensure her young ones receive every opportunity to succeed. She will travel wherever she needs to go to empower and arm herself with new instructional techniques and additional STEM resources. She continually posts photos of her students’ doing their ACE lessons. She has a wide scope of influence in her community and has great depth in her connections with many organizations, but she remains steadfast to the CAP ACE program. We applaud and appreciate the work Rosanna does on behalf of her students and others in her community. She is a magic-touching teacher and we wish her continued success!

CONGRATULATIONS, Rosanna!

#10 National ACE Emeritus Award: Carla Chin

San Jose Catholic School, Jacksonville, FL

We have shown Carla in photos from the beginning of her time as a FACE of ACE- since the first year of the ACE program, 2008! She and her school have won several national ACE awards through the ten years: she was National ACE Teacher of the Year; the school, National ACE School of the Year (wherein the school hosted the 2010 National ACE Lift-off event); a student, National ACE

Student of the Year; and, she, National ACE Sustained Excellence Award winner. Carla is leaving her school this year to move to an administrative educational job, and we know she will be missed with the impact she has made on hundreds of children! She will always remain our first ever CAP ACE Emeritus Educator!

Farewell and thank you, Carla!

How are our ACE Awards determined? First, we accept nominations for our major awards of National Teacher, School and Student of the Year.

Then, we work as a team at the CAP National HQ in Montgomery, AL, to decide which school has gone above and beyond; which school coordinator has worked tirelessly to ensure the teachers conduct the ACE program; and then, which individuals have uniquely stood out (with our knowledge by keeping us updated on what they are doing via photos and communications).

We know many teachers and schools have worked very hard this year, but if we do not hear from you during the year, or in a nomination, we do not know this! SO- please join us again for the 2018-2019 ACE program and keep us informed of all you are doing with our youngest students, ACE kids!

Thanks to the Air Force Association for our national ACE award grants! Points of Pride for 2017-2018 We had a record number of participants this year! Schools: 208 (11% ) Teachers: 624 (4% ) Students: 33,604 (19% ) 46 states + PR + Europe (DoD) (21% ) 98% view ACE as fitting well with standards; supporting STEM education;

valuable use of time; and positive influence on behavior & learning Ten Years- By the Numbers Schools: 1,094 Teachers: 4,197 Students: 169,922 46 states + PR + Europe (DoD) The Air Force Association has been a steady partner all 10 years, providing grants, shirts and awards! News about 2018-2019 Will have revised curriculum online for next year; updated by past ACE teachers with more interactive options to enhance each lesson. Registration will open August 1st, and we hope to see YOU again as a FACE of ACE!